The Beginner’s Guide to Living Creatively
Exploring New Hobbies: How to Find One You Love and Keep an Open Mind
When it comes to finding a new hobby or passion, it can be a little frustrating to find anything that really vibes with you and your interests. There are many times you might ask someone who has a lot of free time whether they may want to try a hobby, and while they say yes, have difficulty even knowing where to start to approach trying out something new.
And it sounds kind of silly too! How am I supposed to know what I like to do, without doing it?
Well, there’s the rub, really. Throughout this guide we’ll go over a few different key points to think about when you’re looking to find a new passion.
Be an Amateur
I cannot stress this enough. It really isn’t one that is easily brushed off either!
When you try out new things, you’re going to suck. Like, really, really bad. You can become frustrated with your progress, the quality of your output or results, or even just tired of feeling like you aren’t having a good time. The good news is everyone goes through some form of this, whether they admit it or not.
Being an adult or young adult means you’ve spent a good amount of time becoming good at a few things - maybe there’s even something you’re really good at that you’ve been doing for years and when you’re doing that activity you just get into the zone and crush it.
Staying open-minded is the very first thing you need to master, and then comforability with being…well…shit. But you gotta be shit to get better. You also need to celebrate your wins too - and recognize that while your gains might be small they are worth being proud of.
Finally, do NOT compare yourself to anyone - ever. Even other amateurs. The only person you ever need to compare yourself to is yourself yesterday.
What Comes to Mind?
Trying to address all of the possibilities out there would be...impossible. Trying to curate a list of things will always come off sounding generic and does not encompass what is truly out there. Sure, drawing, poetry, woodworking, running, and all of those things are great, but don't just go there because it is the norm.
What are some things you're interested in? What are the things that come up naturally when you ask yourself that question? Don't be afraid to let the question sit in your mind for a week if you don't have any immediate thing catch your attention.
Truly thought about it for a week and still drawing a blank? If you have some clear directions to try, or no directions at all, the next step is to...
Watch Someone Do It
Auditing isn’t just for taxes! Whether you’re auditing a class at a local college, or watching a livestream of someone doing their craft, watching other people practice can give you a fantastic glimpse into what a process might look like and whether you could see yourself doing it.
We’re in the Golden Age of learning from others with YouTube and live streaming, and you can learn a hell of a lot for free without needing to commit any serious investment outside of your time. Even better, there’s probably a good few people you can bounce between too! What one person’s approach to art may be could end up being a different approach to how others do it.
As part of LUCO Studios, we believe in making basic lessons available to anyone who is looking to learn! It’s a big part of our philosophy to encourage more people to act and live more creatively, and the age old adage is true - the more the merrier.
Whether you’re watching YouTube tutorials, livestreams, partnering up with a buddy or interacting with others over Discord, we encourage everyone to make themselves available to help people explore what they might be interested in.
Try, Try, Try
Once you’ve explored some passions, the next step is to actually give it a shot! When it comes to different passions and hobbies, there are varying levels of what is needed to get started. Picking up some paper and a pencil for drawing can be a lot more accessible than buying a brand new set of paints, canvas, brushes, and more. This can impede some people from trying things out, but always try to find secondhand or beginner-friendly costing supplies that make things a little easier to swallow when it comes to getting the right items to get going.
Keep in mind the whole amateur thing too! You’re not supposed to be good at it, rather, you’re getting a feel of whether or not you might end up doing this long term. And give it an honest try, not just one hour and calling it quits. Commit at least 10 hours over a 2-3 week period to give yourself some space, time, and perspective to honestly judge if you’re going to like it or not.
Share and Be Inspired
The best and last piece of the puzzle is the part that really gives you fuel - watching other people's work, and sharing your own. Appreciation for what you do comes from a sense of participation, whether that's being part of a group of painters or a downhill mountain biking club, and learning different styles and techniques while giving other people the same in return.
Again, never compare yourself and your progress to anyone else, but learn to recognize and appreciate traits you like. You might just find the next cool thing.
A big part of being inspired is finding those who do what you do, and learning about their journey too. Getting a true feel for how someone has developed over time, and who their influences are, opens up a whole new world of fascinating and exciting exploration.
Looking to explore more? Join us on Discord to meet creative amateurs and professionals from all over the the world.
An even better place to get inspiration about approaching craft from a fresh perspective can be found in the Steal Like an Artist trilogy by Austin Cleon. Check out our book review to learn more.
Danny Danvers